When the first trailer for Steven Soderbergh’s upcoming male stripper drama, Magic Mike, came out, it painted Channing Tatum’s titular character as a dreamer whose side job was at odds with his aspirations for becoming an artist and finding true love. It seemed like the movie was a fun excuse to have a bunch of ripped dudes take their shirts off in order to sell tickets to the boy-crazy segment of the film-going population, sure, but it also looked like a story that had heart and the potential to connect with audiences on a deeper level.
This new international trailer is a little bit different. Its focus is on Alex Pettyfer’s character making his debut in the world of male stripping, and it doesn’t make even momentary mention of anyone’s post-stripping goals. Basically, it makes Magic Mike look like a movie where, for a couple of hours, girls will be shrieking and guys will be wiggling. I guess abs translate much easier than dreams to a multilingual audience.
Who’s most excited about the fact that Magic Mike is coming out this summer? Fans of Steven Soderbergh’s work, maybe. Straight chicks and gay dudes, sure. But it seems to me that the person most looking forward to this skin flick hitting the big screen has got to be Matthew McConaughey. He just looks so damned happy and comfortable in that little cowboy outfit. Finally, finally he gets to star in a movie where nobody can make jokes about him finding an excuse to take his shirt off.
Magic Mike will premiere at next month’s Los Angeles Film Festival and will open on June 29th.